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Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The education of John Beck begins

The latest news on DaunteCulpepper is ...

OK, just kidding.

Actually I was at Dolphins camp today and it was interesting to see the exchange between Trent Green and John Beck today as they came off the field.

Green, grinning ear-to-ear, asked Beck about a throw that resulted in an interception during the team period of the practice.

"You thought that was a cover two?" Green said with his knowing smile.

"That's what I thought it was," Beck said shaking his head.

Green put his arm around Beck as they went past me and into the locker room, still talking about the play that fooled the rookie.

"His eyes see things differently than mine because he has those veteran eyes," Beck said later. "He has a lot more experience."

The good news is Green is apparently mentoring Beck despite past concerns that wouldn't be happening. It's also good that that Beck is smart enough to shut up and listen.

Meanwhile, it is clear Beck has a very good arm. It's not so much about velocity with him, it's more about his quickness of release and his accuracy. His accuracy is about as good as I've seen around Dolphins camp in a loooong time.

That is promising. I like Beck and think Cam/Randy made a good decision in the draft. Think about it, Beck was rated about the same as Brady and we've already got him signed for only a little over $2 million in guarantees. Ginn will probably get less money than Quinn would have at the 9 spot, plus we still have our QB, only now with a potential game breaking WR to throw too.......solid thinking, hopefully it works.

Amazing how quickly a negative has to be thrown in about Beck throwing a pick. Are we going to expect this guy to never throw a pick in his NFL career? However, I do applaud Armando for having a sense of humor by throwing in that Culpepper joke and doing some positive reporting on Beck's day. I think history will show the Dolphins made the right move in the 2007 draft by passing on Quinn. I guess only time will tell.

Wow! 5 comments in three hours. Well lets see, we get bad news and everyone blogs about how Cams a moron,and Huzienga should sell the team,and Randy should be fired. But now we hear that Green is in camp early to prepare himself for the season, Beck has a quick release and great accuracy and has learned the playbook better than anyone expected. Where is everyone?! I'm seriously starting to think that some of these "fans" aren't happy unless we are failing. I guess it makes them feel better about their meaningless lives. Hurry up guys, the bandwagon is leaving, better jump on or you may be left behind! Naahhh what am I saying,,you can just wait until the Dolphins do good and than you can shout from the rooftops about how you knew it all along. And if they do bad you can scream 'I told you so'. Some fans are pathetic.

Guys, the pick was a jump ball that went off our 6'6" receivers hands right into the hands of a DB who is 7" shorter. There was a play by play blog in the sentinel that explained it. Not that QB'S aren't going to throw INTS but I thought it was note worthy.

Just reading the words "quick releaseand accurate" was enough to give me hope our QB of the future is actually on the roster. Plus, from everything I have heard and read, Beck already understands the playbook more than Culpepper ever did in his short and miserable Dolphins career.

I liked the anecdote about the INT. It shows you how things are going between Green and Beck, rather than just saying things are going well. This is exciting news about Beck's accuracy. I'd like to hear more about Beck as camp goes on.

To Michael Kannon: There was concern about Green not mentoring Beck when he said last year -- following the drafting of Brodie Croyle -- that his job was not to mentor Croyle. He said it wasn't his style to take Croyle under his wing. He said that was up to the coaches. He did add, however, that Croyle would be well-served by watching how he (Green) handled his preparation and how he handled the media and how he dealt with circumstances and that that would serve Croyle better than anything he could mentor him on.

Green said similar things during his introductory press conference in Miami.

I've liked the Beck pick since that first fateful day of the draft. The kid has a good arm and head on him, and will work his tail off. I'm pretty hopeful that Ginn will be in camp a lot sooner than either Allen or Brown was in in the previous two years.

No expectations. A defense that finished 4th last year, and is probably better this year. Offense is only going to get better, although I wish the O-Line was more solid. A veteran QB that's teaching the new kid in town unselfishly.

Hmmm... Things don't seem so bad in Dolphins land. Especially watching Quinn holding out firmly (unlike the Ginn situation that they are probably only negotiating escalators or a little more guaranteed money, or length of contract). No talk of the Superbowl, only talk of getting better, and healthy competition. And reporters that actually get stuff to report on rather than the door slammed in their face.

This season, even if we go 4-12, has more reason to watch and be hopeful for since Marino and Johnson left town.

As far as the comment about Armando bringing up a negative play on Beck. So what? He's making a point about the learning process, and a Veteran teaching a Rookie. Not very many QB's come into the league like Marino. Most take time to adjust, if they do at all. In my opinion, Beck can be the real deal given the time to learn and not be thrown behind that patchwork O-Line.

We are headed in the right direction. Just ignore the Jets fans trying to convince you otherwise.

I think the mentoring of Croyle and Beck are totally different issues. I think Green just meant he didn't want to simply be a QB coach on the roster. By mentoring Croyle they meant they wanted him to be the backup and coach the guy during the season. With Beck the phins want him to start and help Beck develop in practice and pre-season.

This is a very similar situation to KC last year when Green was the starter (in camp) and they were bringing Croyle along slowly and he was given no shot to start. So we will see how Green's tune changes next year when Beck is given the advantage in winning the starting job (assuming he doesn't look completely lost this year).

Although I don't think we get to that point because Green won't make it through the season w/ our patchwork O-line and his age/injury history.

I've been reading this blog since it began but have never commented until now.It seems you people pick on everything Armando says regardless of whether it is positive or negative.This was a GREAT post because it was entertaining, it gave insight about the relationship between Green and Beck, and it was POSITIVE.Yet out of all of that, some anus is torqued off because Armando wrote Beck threw an interception? Have you guys ever watched a football game? Interceptions are part of the sport.Some of you need to get over yourselves and appreciate the information you're getting. Meanwhile, keep up the good work Armando.

Good Blog Armando. To even things up please would you pass a few tips on journalism, attitude, team support, management and football to Cote and Lebatard. On second thoughts football may be a bit of a stretch for those two.

Marino had Don Strock to mentor him. Bob Griese didn't have much mentoring at all except for Shula screaming threats at him (in the beginning.)Marino was more instinctive and natually gifted; with the right to change plays as he saw opportunites, which he did often.Griese was more of an old school 'Field General' relying on his wits and an awesome ground game. Marino was always carrying the team rather than leading it for lack of great runners and defense. Beck is blessed with a mentor, a defense, and an offensive minded coach. The new era will be different than the previous Shula Days; but the team will be more balanced and better; if the injury bug stays away. I am optimistic for better times ahead soon.

Green knows his place on the Dolphins, and that is pretty much a stopgap for a year or two, until Beck is ready.

In KC, he was the QB, and he probably felt his job was in jeopardy by mentoring Croyle.

But I think last year was a wake up call (even if he was knocked unconsious) that his days are numbered. I think he's still got some gas left in the tank, but KC is moving in a different direction. Hopefully, he can return to form, or at least 3/4s form. That and I hope the O line can protect him. That's one thing that we haven't heard much about. Hey Armando, make that a future blog.

And yes it's true what Scott said before. Negative blogs, people are all over. But you get a positive one, and no one has anything to say. Me, I had left work, so was not near a computer until this morning, at work again. And I'm hard at work now!!

What you guys fail to realize is Armando throws in things like that to get people fired up. If he always came out with positive blogs, people would stop reading. People like to be angry, and he gives them reason. He got under my skin with the whole Chambers issue.

And really, I don't think he meant to critisize Beck, but merely show the relationship between Beck and Green. But because it was a positive post,someone had to look for something negative to bitch about.

If any of you saw beck play in college, you know this guy can play. He is very accurate and has great touch also. He's going to be way better than Brady Quinn. Overhyped because he played for the media darlings Notre Lame.

Ahhhh, Armando I knew you were out to take over the world. One stupid blogger at a time!

It's way too early to make any calls on Beck, but all the indicators say Cameron and Mueller made the right choice in passing on Quinn. What little I've been able to read about the 1st couple of practices have said things like "Favre like fast ball" and "Release we haven't seen since number 13."

Well it is the time of the year when we can smell the roses of hope before the dill weed of reality has a chance to interrupt our euphoria. Beck is not a kid, he's 25 so the sooner we can get him on the field the better provided he's the best player.

The OL will still dictate any chance we have of being any good this year. I think we should direct our attention to that group and hope Houck has some magic left in his bag of tricks. If we could begin on Friday and field the same 5 guys throughout the pre-season, they would have a chance to gel more quickly then if we play musical tackles until opening day.

The Fins seem to have a very solid team all around, the defense - well, we know is good secondary questions or not. Ronnie Brown is a solid runner and should only get better, the receivers are good if not great, and a new offensive minded coach who intends to mix things up a bit with the play calling looks promising. If our new two time Pro Bowl QB stays healthy, the only question is the OL. If they play well, which they might under Houk, the Fins could go 10-6. If not, another long season is in store until they get that line in order. That will be the difference this year (again, assuming Green stays healthy).

Glad to hear that Green's being helpful--he did want to go to Miami and work with Cam, and he had to know that he himself wasn't the long-term answer. Still, says alot for Green. I was as mad as any fan when they passed on Quinn for Ginn. But as I'd heard the mixed reviews on Quinn, I was more ticked about taking Ginn--there had to be better options to fill more glaring holes than Ginn. And I love what I'm hearing (here and elsewhere) about Beck!

About this blog

Armando Salguero has covered South Florida sports for 25 years, starting as a 19-year-old in 1982. He's covered the Dolphins since 1990 and hosts a Dolphins hour show every weeknight 7-8 on 790 TheTicket (790theticket.com). He has worked nationally for ESPN and also writes sports columns for The Miami Herald.